some dental materials, such as sealants or composite fillings, which contain low amounts of BPA derivatives (BPA is only present in saliva for up to 3 hours after a dental procedure that uses sealants or composite fillings)

Some reports suggest that bisphenol A may leach out of polycarbonate plastics, food can linings and other materials, possibly exposing humans to levels that are higher than the current suggested safe levels.

Many plastics have a recycling code (1–7) on them, usually at the bottom of the container. Polycarbonate plastics are labelled with a recycling code 7 and may contain BPA.

Some research suggests that bisphenol A is an endocrine disruptor. This means that it may mimic or disrupt hormones – in this case, estrogen. Being exposed to endocrine disruptors may lead to certain types of cancer.

Some research also suggests that being exposed to bisphenol A at levels much lower than what is currently thought to be safe can affect the health of laboratory animals. This research has not been done in people, and scientists do not know whether the results of the studies in laboratory animals apply to humans. Recent studies on laboratory animals exposed to very low doses of bisphenol A at a young age have shown that BPA exposure can:

affect sperm production

affect fertility

cause persistent changes in mammary gland (breast tissue) development

cause persistent changes in the prostate gland

These doses are at levels much lower than what was previously thought to be harmful. However, scientists disagree about the results of these studies and what the studies mean for humans. Though there is some research on bisphenol A in humans, it is very limited.

We do not know if exposure to bisphenol A increases your risk of cancer or can have other effects on your health.

The federal government is most concerned about infants and children being exposed to bisphenol A leaching from polycarbonate baby bottles and from canned infant formula. For more information visit their website.

If you’re concerned, there are ways you can reduce your and your children’s exposure to this chemical:

Avoid children’s toys, bottles and dishes made with polycarbonate plastic. You may have to contact the manufacturer to find out what the item is made from. Visit our section on phthalates to learn more about certain plastics in children’s toys.

General information about bisphenol A
These pages provide information about sources of bisphenol A exposure, potential health risks associated with bisphenol A exposure, how you can minimize your risk, and the role of government in Canada as well as internationally in monitoring current research and managing the risks associated with exposure.